The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) recently launched a new online, and free to take, course called Understanding Renewable Energy. It forms part of its #YALIGoesGreen imitative which aims to help raise awareness and support the increased use of renewable energy sources around the world.

YALI believes that “Developing the best practices and technologies to transition countries to renewable energies from fossil fuels is one of the most exciting challenges of our time.” Renewable energy can be sourced from the sun, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat and helps create new opportunities and jobs for many different sectors.

The online course consists can be done at your own pace and consists of three lessons. All participants who successfully complete the course will receive a personalised certificate from YALI and can also promote their achievement on their CVs and LinkedIn profiles.

The first lesson is entitled “The Energy of Tomorrow” and is taught by Stephen Koopman, Research and Development Manager at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Energy Centre in South Africa. The lesson will explore how renewable energy has developed in recent years and how it will likely shape the future of electricity production around the world.

“The Power System” is the second lesson and is taught by Crescent Mushwana, Principal Engineer and a Research Group Leader for Energy System. Taking this lesson will enable you to “Learn how power systems operate, how power companies and their system operators can use renewable energy sources to meet the needs of their customers and what countries can do to guarantee that their renewable energy-based power supplies are available when and where they need them.”

The third and final lesson is called “Energy and You” and is taught by Peter Mukoma, Demand Response and Energy Efficiency Manager at the CSIR Energy Centre in South Africa. Taking this lesson will enable you to learn about ways in which “Individuals can help their communities and countries move to renewable energy sources” and how they can become more energy efficient by reducing their demand for energy.

To learn more about the course and to sign up for it visit the YALI website.